Leather-folding machine



J. W. ANTHONY.

LEATHER FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDFEB. 18,1916.

1 26,826. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

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4 J6 w 58 26 A n A A A 20' A 1 22 I a S Patnted Dec. 30,1919.

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UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIECE.

JOSEPH W. ANTHONY, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed February 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Leather-Foldin Machines, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to a machine for folding and creasing leather or like material, and primarily, has for its object to provide a machine which will turn over and press down a previously cemented edge-portion of a piece of leather onto its back side or onto a backing or stifiening placed thereon, to cause such edge-portion to adhere thereto and simultaneously to crease or emboss the leather on its face side, for ornamental purposes, so that the operation may be rapidly and uniformly performed, and the article may be produced at small expense.

For an understanding of my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and side elevations of a machine constituting an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view taken at the line 1-4: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken at the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view, similar to Fig. 5, with the work-supporting table removed.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view, taken at the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail view, in elevation, of the forming plates, and their operating means.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same parts.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the overlapping ends of the forming plates.

Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive, are detail views showing the folding and pressing mechanism in different positions.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are plan and edge views of the manufactured article.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view taken at the line 1919 of Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 16 to 18, the article to be manufactured comprises a nearly rectangular or oblong stiifening sheet or back- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Serial No. 79,205.

ing a, of canvas or like material, which is covered on one side by a thin sheet of leather 6, the edge portions 6 of which are, in the present instance, notched at the corners and turned up and bent over onto the back side of the stifiening sheet and adhesively connected thereto at two sides and one of the ends. The front side of the leather is also creased about the edge, as indicated at 6 As shown in the drawing, the base 10 of the machine is adapted to be mounted on a suitable table, and has a vertically disposed pull rod 12, reciprocally mounted therein, said rod 12 having a treadle rod 13 attached to its lower end, so that said rod 12 may be pulled down by a foot treadle, (not shown). A crossbar 14 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of the rod 12, and a rectangularly shaped frame 16 is rigidly connected to the ends of said crossbar 141, and supported in a horizontal position.

A pair of pull rods 20 and 22 are rigidly secured in the frame 16 and extend vertically upward therefrom, and a supporting bar 24: is slidably mounted on said rods 20, 22, and is normally held against the upper side of the frame 16 by springs 25, 26, on said rods 20, 22. A table 28 is mounted on a pair of bracket arms 29, which are in turn connected to the lower end of a supporting rod 30, (see Fig. 19), said arms 29 extending vertically upward, at opposite sides of the supporting bar 241, and being guided to move vertically by an angular shaped clip 31, the horizontal portion of which is secured to the bar 24: by screws, and the vertical portion of which forms a bridge through which the rod 30 passes, the side portions of the bridge being grooved to form guideways for the arms 29. A stop nut 32 is provided on the upper end of rod 30, and a spring 34 is mounted on said rod between the nut 32 and the clip 31, so that said spring acts to draw the table toward a clamping plate 38, which is formed on the under side of bar 2 1, see Figs. 3 and 4:, and its edge portions are beveled on its upper sides, as shown, and have approximately the same contour as the space inclosed by the inturned edges 6 of the leather covering of the article to be manufactured, as shown in Fig. 16. In the present instance, the edge porions of the leather are folded in at three of the edges, only, and the edges of the stifiener and the'leather are flush at the fourtn edge, see Fig. 16. A pair of forming plates a and are provided, which are adapted to. extend over the two side and the end edge portions or" the clamping plate 38, said plates being of angular form and extending tol l each other over the end edge portions of plate 38, so that they meet adjacent the middle thereof, the nieeting end portions being formed to overlap to an extent, in all positions, as shown in Fig. 10.

Fins and 216 are slidably arranged in opposite oblique positions in the bar 2+1, so that they cross each other, (see F 9), and said plates li), 42 are rigidly secured thereto, and supported thereby in contact with the upper surface of plate 38, and coincident with the edge portions thereof, and in such a position that the pins lie approximately midway of or bise t the angle between the side and end portions of the plates l0, l2, in each instance, so that, when aid pins are moved forward, the plates will be carried outward over the side and front edge portions of the plate 38, in oblique directions with relation thereto.

ii. pair of springs 50, 51 are mounted on bar 24 in position to engage the front ends of pins at, at, so as to press thein rearwardly, and ca ry the plates 40 and toward each other. Fri l ans are also provided for moving the pins an d 46 and the plates 40 and in the opposite direction, which comprise a slide 52 mounted on the upper side of the bar 2%, and having pair or depending arms 53, which extend downwardly ht opposite sides of said bar, and on the lower ends of which oblique faces a: are formed in position to engage the ends of the pins l and as, that, as said slide is moved fGI'ZTQEK F, said faces will be erred against said pins, which will, in turn, ee forced forwardly to carry the plates ay from each other, or

7 and i2 obliquely aw outwardly.

A. hand lever 56 is provided for moving the slide in opposition to the springs 51, which is mounted on a cross bar 58,

supported by n; "nits 59, mounted on the base 10, one arm of said lever 56 being arranged to engage the do 59, as shown in sli 1. A locking pin 86 is mounted to slide vertically in the bar and extends down through the frame 16 into a. recess 1% formed in the upper side of the cross 1e, and a spring 88 is arranged in said recess and on the lower end portion or" said pin 86 in engagement with a collar 89 thereon, said spring acting normally to hold said collar against the under side of the frame 16. The slide is provided with a horizontally extending finger 90, which normally extends over the upper end of pin 86 and holds it depressed below the upper surface of bar 2st.

messes When, however, the slide 52 is pressed for-- ward by lever 56, against the action of springs 50, 51, by the time the extreme forward position thereof is reached, the finger 90 will have been Withdrawn from contact with the pin 86, permitting the latter to spring up into the path of the finger, locking said slide against rearward movement, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A bracket 60 is mounted on the base 10, at one side of the operating rod 12, and is provided with a horizontal portion 60 through which said rod extends, as shown in Fig. 3. A collar 62 is slidably mounted on the pull rod 152 beneath said bracket portion (-30, and a spring 64 is arranged on the rod 12 between the base 10 and the under side of the collar 62, and normally presses said collar against the under side of said bracket portion 60. Said collar 62 is provided with three pairs of upwardly projecting fingers (35, 66, 65, 66 and 65 66 and wiper-plate holders 68, 70, and 72 are supported by the fingers 65 and 66, 65 and 66 and 65 and 66 respectively, by means of horizontally disposed pins 69, 71 and 7.3, respectively, which are slidably mounted therein.

Springs 75 are mounted on each of said pins 69, 71, and T3 between the inner fingers 66, 66, 66 and collars on the pins, so that the springs act to hold the collars against the outer fingers 65, 65 65 which act as stops to limit the outwarn movement thereof. Said holders 68, '70, and 72 have wiperplates 7%, 76, 78 mounted thereon, respectively, the edges of which extend adjacent and parallel to the side and front edges of plate 28. Said holders have inclined faces 68, 70, and 72, on their outer sides, in position to be engaged by similarly inclined faces 16 on the frame 16.

A creasing or embossing iron 92 is rigidly supported on the base of the machine so that its edge lies close to the edge of the table 28 in the depressed position of the latter. A stop-plate 93 is rigidly supported directly beneath the table 28, by means of four legs 94-, which extend downwardly at each side of the cross bar 14, and rest directly on the horizontal bracket portion 60. An abutting screw 96 is extended through and threaded in the cross bar 14:, so that lower end may engage the collar 62 in cert. in positions of the rod 12. The machine is shown with the parts in initial position in Fig. 8, in which position the table 28 is supported a short distance below the level of the clainpiiigplate 88.

Before the material to be operated upon is placed in the machine, the edge portions 79 of the leather are coated with cement on the flesh side and the cement is allowed to become tacky. The stiffening piece, or backing a is placed on the leather in the luv desired relation and then the two pieces are inserted between the plate 38 and table 28, with the leather piece at the under side next the table, and in such a position that the backing slightly overhangs the edge of the table, at the three edges at which the fold is to be formed. In this position, the edge portions 7), of the leather piece, lie on the upper surface of the wiper-plates 74, 76, and 78, as shown in Fig. 11. The lever 56 is then swung so that the slide 52 is moved forwardly, causing the pins 14:, 16, to be pressed forward, and carry the forming plates to and 42 outwardly with relation to the table 28 in diagonal directions, until their edges project beyond, or slightly overhang the three corresponding edges of the table 28, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. This will cause the finger 90 to be moved forwardly sufficiently to permit the pin 86 to be moved upwardly by its spring, and lock these parts in this position, as shown in Fig. 8.

The operator then depresses the treadle, so as to draw down the rod 12, first causing the rods 20 and 22 to be drawn down, and the springs 25 and 26 thereon to press against the upper sides of the bar 24, which will be moved down to the same extent. In the initial position of the parts, the upper end of the rod 30, which supports the table 28, is held, by its spring 34, in engagement with the under side of the frame portion 58, and, as the lower end of the spring 34. is practically supported by the bar 2 1 during the first part of the lowering movement of the bar 24, the spring as will simply expand, so that it will sustain said table in its initial position.

As the plate 38, which is formed on the under side of the bar 24:, will be moved down with the frame 16, and other parts, it will be moved toward the table 28 until the pieces a and b are clamped therebetween, as shown in Fig. 11, by the action of the spring 34. Continued downward movement of the bar 2 f will then cause the table 28 to be depressed therewith, so that the work, which is clamped between the table 28 and plate 38 will be carried below the level of the wiperplates 7%, 76, and 7 8, causing the free edge Z) of the leather to be turned up, as indi cated in Fig. 12. When this point has been reached, the inclined faces 16 on the frame 16 will be moved into engagement with the correspondingly inclined faces 68, 7 72 on the wiper-plate holders, so that, when the frame 16 is drawn down beyond this point, they will have a wedging action on the wiper-plates holders, and thus force all the wiper-plates inwardly, simultaneously, over the edges of the forming-plates 10 and 12, so that the edge portions 2) of the leather are bent sharply about the edges of said wiperplates, and are wiped inward onto the upper surfaces of said plates, as shown in Fig. 13.

Just before this point is reached, the frame 16 will have engaged the collar 89 on locking pin 86, so that the latter will be drawn downwardly, and by the time the position of Fig. 13 ha been reached, or immediately thereafter, said pin will be drawn down below the level of the finger 90 on the slide 52, so that the latter is unlocked, permitting the springs 50, 51, to force the forming plates inwardly, or back to their original position, in Fig. 1d, said plates 40, 4:2, by this movement, being withdrawn from beneath the wiper-plates 7-1, 76, and 78. WVhen this point in the operation is reached, the screw 96 will have been carried down into engagement with the collar 62, so that, on further downward movement of the parts, said collar 62 will draw down all of the wiper-plate holders, simultaneously, causing the under side of the wiper-plates to be pressed down onto the folded-in edge of the leather, as shown in Fig. 14:. At the same time, the table 28 will be brought into engagement with the stop plate 93, which will firmly support the same, so that on continued downward movement of the parts positively actuated by the rod 12, the spring 25, 26 will be compressed permitting the wiper-plates to be pressed against the turned-in edge of the leather with as much force, and for as long a time as may be necessary to cause the cement on said iii-turned edges to adhere to the backing onto which they have been folded, this being dependent on the force with which, and the length of time during which the treadle is depressed.

The creasing iron 92 is arranged to extend slightly above the level of the upper side of table 28, when the latter is in its lowest position, and in close proximity to the edge thereof, so that when the final pressing op eration of the turned-in edges is being performed, the face side of the leather will be brought firmly into engagement with the cr asing iron, which will partly resist the force of the wiper-plates in pressing down the fold, and cause a crease or head to he formed therein adjacent its edge, as shown in Fig. 15. This iron is preferably heated, so that it will more effectively perform this operation, such heating means not being shown.

WVhen the pressure on the treadle is removed, the reverse operation of the parts takes place, and, at the end of the upward movement, the rod 30, which supports the table 28, will engage the frame portion 58, so that further upward movement of the table is prevented, and, as the plate 38 will be lifter somewhat further before the limit of the upward movement of the rod 12 is reached, the clamping action of the spring 34:

comprising on the Work will be relieved, permitting the latter to be removed and another piece to be inserted. The entire operation may thus be rapidly performed.

1. A machine of the character described comprising a pair or" clanming plates, a plurality of forming; )lates laterally movable to and from positions beyond different edges of one of said clamping plates, aplurality of Wiper -,ilates, means to cause movement of said Wiper plates with relation to the corresponding" edges of said forming; plate, to fold edge portions of the work onto the formingplates "while the latter are held in positions beyond the edges of the said clamping-plate, and means to Withdraw the forming; plates "from beneath the fold and to cause relati e movement of the clamping plates and Wipers to press the folds against the surfaces to which they are to be at tached.

A machine 01" the character described comprising Work-clamping plates, having angularly disposed edge-portions, singularlyshaped forming plates arranged to extend over adjacent angularly disposed edges of one of the clamping plates, means to move said forming plates outwardly With respect to said ec approximately in the direction of the bisector of the angle therebetween and means to lock said forming plates in outer position duringthe folding; operation.

3. A machine of the character described worlnclampingplates having side and end edges, a pair of forming plates arranged to extend over opposite side edges and toward each other over an intermediate end edge of one of said clamping plates, means to move said forming plates obliquely outward with relation to said edges, means to fold corresponding edge-portions of the work about the edges of said "forming plates, and means to return said plates to their initial positions.

4.1"; machine of the character described comprising ivorkclamping plates having side and end edges, a pair of forming plates arranged to extend over opposite side edges and toward each other over an intermediate end edge portion of one of said clamping plates, and arranged to over ap at their meeting end portions over said intermediate end edge to provide a substantially continuone work engaging edge in the different positions thereof, means to move said forming plates divergently, means to fold correspondingly er ge portions of the Work about the edges of said forming plates, and means to return said plates to their initial positions.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a reciprocally mounted treadle rod, a pair of coacting clamping plates carried thereby, a spring acting to move one plate toward the other, engaging" means to hold said plates out oi clamping engagement when the rod is in its initial position, permitting said spring to operate to clamp the Work as the rod is moved from initial position, wiper plates arranged adjacent the path of movement of the edges of said clamping plates, as they are moved by said rod, to turn up the edge portion or" the work held thereby, a stop arranged to limit the movement of said clamping plates, and means, actuated by continued movement of said rod, to more said Wiper plates to :told said ed 'e portion inwardly, and to move them laterally to press the folded edge portion against one 01" the clamping plates Wiile held against said step.

6. 5L machine of the character described comprising means successively actuated to fold the edge-portion of the WOI'lI inwardly and press the fold downwardly upon the upper surface thereof and a creasing iron ar ranged to engage the lower surface of the Work as the told is pressed against the up per surface thereof, so that the pressing action at one sice causes the creasing action at the opposite side.

7. In a machine of the character described, a reciprocally mounted treadle rod, a support carried thereby having a downwardly facing clamping plate thereon, a table disposed directly beneath said plate, a spring for movin said table and plate into clamping engagement, abutment arranged to cause separation oi said plate and table in the initial position of the treadle rod, and pern'iitting operation oi said spring during the initial movement of said rod to clamp the Word, and means actuated by said rod as the movement thereof is continued to fold in the edge portion or the work While held by said plate and table.

8. In a folding machine, a clamping plate, a table arranged beneath said plate and projecting beyond the edge thereof, forming plates supported above said clamping plate and movable to carry their forming edges over the table, outwardly from the edge of said clamping plate, means to fold the edge portion oi the material held on said table about the edges of said forming plates When said forming plates are in a position outwardly from the edge of the clamping plate, and means to Withdraw said forming plates, to permit the fold to be pressed by said folding means onto the material, supported on the table, beyond the edge ot said clamping plate.

9. In a folding machine, a support having a clamping; plate on its under side. a table supported directly beneath said plate and arranged to cooperate therewith to clamp the material therebetween, a forming plate mounted on said" support and movable to carry its edge outwardly from the edge of said plate, means to lock said forming plate in its outer position, a spring to return it to position over the clamping plate, folding devices, and operating devices movable successively to fold the edge portion of the material, held by said clamping plate and table, onto said forming plate, to unlock said forming plate and to move said folding devices to press the fold onto the material.

10. In a folding machine, a pair of clamping plates, a forming plate normally supported over one of said plates and movable outwardly from the edge thereof, locking means to hold said forming plate in outer position and a spring for returning it to normal position when unlocked, a wiper-plate, means to move said plates relatively, to wi e the edge-portion of the material, held y said clamping plates, over onto said forming plate, means to unlock said forming plate at the end of said wiping movement, a fixed support and means thereafter to move said wiper plate, to press the wiped-in edge portion against said support.

11. In a folding machine, a main support having a clamping plate thereon formed to provide side edges and an intermediate end edge, a pair of angular shaped forming plates extending over said side edges and adjacent portions of said end edge, slidable supports for said forming plates movable in paths which cross each other, an actuating device for moving said slidable supports outwardly from the edges of said clamping plate, means to lock said supports in their outer position and spring actuated means to return them to normal position, a table cooperating with said clamping plate to hold the material to be folded, folding devices and actuating means movable to fold the edge portion of said material onto said forming plates, to unlock said slidable supports, and move said folding devices to press down the fold, successively.

12. A machine for folding the projecting edges of a section of material comprising means for clamping the section of material, means operative to simultaneously present edge-formers for all lines of fold, and means operative to fold the projecting material over and against said edge-formers, the edge formers being movable to a position free of the folded portion of the material during the folding operation and immediately subsequent to the initial folding of the material onto said edge-formers.

13. A machine for folding the edges of material on a predetermined outline comprising clamping-means for holding the material, ed ge-formers movable to a position to simultaneously present edge-folding lines for the material and a receiving surface for the folded edges in partly folded relation, and subsequently movable to a position wholly free of the folded edges of the material, and means for engaging the edges of the material beyond such edge-folding lines to exerts folding pressure thereon following the initial operative positioning of the edgeformers, and during and following withdrawal of such edge-formers from the folded portion.

1 A machine for folding the edge of a section of material onto said section in a predetermined outline comprising clampingmeans engaging the material within the area of the edge to be folded, edge-forming members simultaneously movable to an operative position beyond the clamping-means to present a folding edge and surface and to an inoperative position within the free edge of the folded portion, and folding-means operative upon the projected portions of the material to be folded while the edge-forum ing members are in operative position and immediately following the movement of said edge-forming members to inoperative position.

15. A folding machine for foldingcthe edge of a section of material on a predetermined outline, comprising means for.

clamping the material within the outline of the portion to be folded, edge-forming 1nembers associated with the clamping-means and movable beyond the same to present a folding edge and surface, and wiper members operating upon the portion to be folded to fold said portion onto the edge-forming members in accordance with. the edge outline of such members, and means to withdraw the edge-forming members from the folded portion of the material following the initial operation of the wip 1' members.

16. A machine for folding the edge of a fabric section on predetermined lines, comprisinga clamping-means for the section, an edge-forming member associated with the clamping-means and presenting an edge in accordance with the desired line of fold, means for operating such edge-forming member to project it beyond the clampingmeans to present a folding edge and surface for the portion to be folded, a wiper operating upon the portion of the material to be folded to lay said portion upon the edgeforming member, means to automatically withdraw the edge-forming member from the folded portion of the material, means for operating the wiper, and means operated upon a movement of the wiper operating means to release the edge-forming member for the operation of the automatic withdrawing-means therefor.

17. A folding machine including in combination material clamping means, material edge folding means and material edge creasing means.

18. A folding machine including a bed, clamping means associated with the bed,

i material edge folding means operating to told an edge of the material, means for depressing the bed to likewise depress the folded material following the operation of the edge folding means, and a creasing iron arranged to contact with the material in its 10 depressed position to crease the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

I JOSEPH W. ANTHONY. Witnesses:

B. J. NoYns, H. B. DAVIS. 

